Start Review: Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala

Book Description via Goodreads:

Tell me a secret, and I'll tell you one…

In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda’s death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister’s world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.

Then two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears. Stripped of her former life, Miranda must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister’s demons and her own.

In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her own future.

My Thoughts:

Amazing. With just two chapters, I was hooked into the story. I loved how the story was told in a series of flashbacks. The woven present and past was masterfully done in a way that was not confusing but gripping.

I was pulled deep into Miranda’s life. Her closeness with her sister and her idolizing her was simply endearing and startling at the same time. Xanda was not exactly what most people think of as a good example for her younger sister. But I loved Xanda because she was so free, so expressive and she knew what she wanted. But I guess in Miranda’s eyes, Xanda was the perfect role model simply because she loved her.

I loved the concept of mazes incorporated here through art. It makes me think on how this reflects the life of Miranda. It was as if she was stuck in a maze of her own, searching for something that is very difficult to find. Most importantly, the secret vibe drove me insane. I knew something was up and it was killing me to not know what it was right away. It was a really good motivator, it made me read fast.

So far Tell Me a Secret did not disappoint. I’m looking forward to finishing it.